Broom-holder



(No Model.)

M. V. BULLA. BIROOM HOLDER.

No. 458,332. Patented Aug. 25, 1891.

@witwassen MILTON V. BULLA, OF

BRooM- PATENT OFFICE.

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

HOLDER.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,332, dated August 25, 1891.

Application filed October 2, 1889. Serial No.3251808. (No model.)

To alZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON V. BULLA, of South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom-Holders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is a face view of my improved holder for brooms and similar utensils. Fig. 2V is a vertical sectional 'view through the same. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

This invention is an improved broom-support or device for suspending brooms and other handled tools or utensils by clamping the handle; and it consists, essentially, in a device wherein aball working in an inclined keeper will bear against the handle when inserted in the device and bind the handle against another similar ball or face of the device when the handle is drawn downward, but will release the same when uplifted, all of which will be clearly understood from the .following in connection with the drawings.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the holder-frame, preferably made of rolled metal, or cast, if found convenient. This frame preferably has both of its opposite side edges curved forwardly and inwardly, forming two inverted conical wings B B, having their largest ends uppermost and gradually converging toward their lower ends, and having a narrow Vertical space b left at their adjoining edges,where the edges of the plate, turned inward, as described, approxim ate the face thereof. The space between the two wings BBis open, so that a broom-handle can be placed or laid in between the wings, and is just about sufciently wide to receive a broomhandle W', as indicated, and in each of these conical wings is loosely placed a ball-follower C, one face of which will partly project through the vertical space Z) of its wing, as

shown, and projecting gradually more and more as the balls descend in the conical wings. The balls cannot escape from the wings, however, as the lower portions thereof are too contracted to permit this. As the balls roll upward in the conical wings they separate, and as they move downward they approach, as is evident, and by placing the handle of the broom between the wings and pressing it upward and inward the balls O C are forced upward and separate until the handle can abut against the face ofthe frame between the wings. Then when the handle is released the balls O O roll downward and impinge against the handle by gravity, binding the same and preventing its withdrawal by a vertical downward pull, but permitting it to be readily removed if lifted upwardly and outwardly. lThe frame is secured in position on the wall byscrews or in other convenient manner, with the small endof the conical wings downward, as shown. If desired, the upper end of the conical wings may be provided with inwardly-standing fingers or pieces b b, which eifectually prevent the accidental displacement of the balls or loss thereof.

It will be observed that the holder is selfadjusting for different thicknesses and sizes of handles, and it is without rivets or journals for the balls, and can be readily made from sheet metal. The balls might be roughsurfaced, if desired, to facilitate the binding thereof on the handle.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is- In a broom-holder, a pair of hollow 'oppositely-inclined wings connected to a back so as to leave an open space between the adjoining cally slitted or spaced at their adjoining faces, in combination with verticallymovable followers loosely conned in said wings and partly projecting through the spaces or slits thereof, wherebyahandle placed in the space between the wings will be clamped by and between the followers and upheld, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON V. BULLA.

Vitnesses:

JAMES DUsHANE, HOMER W. OASE.

faces of the wings, said wings being verti- 

